we should not even be talking about the big three. the big three did not get us in this problem. it was the bush tax cuts, it was the unfunded wars, it was big pharma. that's what brought us to where we are right now. it wasn't the elderly. it wasn't the poor. it wasn't those who are sick and need help. those people have nothing to do with the elite on wall street. it's easy for the gang of six to stand up and say sure, they can serve it up a little bit more. and these code sentences that are used about, well, we're going to try to make it stronger. you show me a cut to somebody who's living on a fixed income, i'll show you a cut. tonight, mr. president, i beg you don't do this. no matter what the cost. the republicans have caused this financial mess, they have signatured it into the history books. do not back down. take the big three off the table. make it a nonnegotiable issue. now's not the time. morally, this isn't the time and it's not the right place to have this dpiegt. force the republicans to negotiate on your terms. mr. president, why didn't you tell us at grant park th